Like a Virgin (album)

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For other uses, see Like a Virgin (album) (disambiguation).
Untitled

Like a Virgin is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter Madonna, released on November 12, 1984 by Sire Records. The album was re-released in 1985 for the European market with the bonus track "Into the Groove". In 2001 Warner Bros. released a remastered version with two bonus remix tracks (this version did not include "Into the Groove"). It sold 11 million copies when it was released and has sold an estimated 19 million copies worldwide[1][2].

Album history

Nile Rodgers was chosen by Madonna as the producer of the album, mostly because of his work with David Bowie on his album Let's Dance. Like a Virgin built on the sound and image that Madonna had created in her debut album, which was very much disco and pop-oriented. Madonna dedicated the album to "all the virgins of the world".

The album's title track, "Like a Virgin" was her first number one hit song. Madonna debuted the song at the first annual MTV Video Music Awards. In this performance, Madonna rolled on the floor in a white wedding dress, exposing her panties and garter belt, all the while wearing a belt that read "Boy Toy". The album's second single, "Material Girl", earned Madonna her nickname of "Material Girl" from the media. Originally, "Into the Groove" was not included on the album. The song was an early recording slated to appear on her debut album, but was dropped at the last minute. It later resurfaced in Madonna's 1985 film, Desperately Seeking Susan and became a worldwide hit. Subsequently, Warner Bros. Records included it on Virgin's European tracklisting.

The album was a huge success on the charts, but the critics were not really convinced of Madonna's skills and described her as an "unimportant annoying one-hit-wonder" with a voice similar to "Minnie Mouse on helium". The award shows largely snubbed Like a Virgin; although she did receive a few nominations at the 1985 MTV Video Music Awards, she lost each of them.

The sleeve image was by Steven Meisel who would become a regular collaborator. In 1992 he shot all the photographs for the infamous book SEX.

She later performed "Material Girl", "Angel", "Like a Virgin", "Over and Over", and "Dress You Up" on her 1985 Virgin Tour.

Track listing

# Title Composers Production credits Time
1. "Material Girl" Peter Brown, Robert Rans Nile Rodgers 4:00
2. "Angel" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 3:56
3. "Like a Virgin" Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg Nile Rodgers 3:38
4. "Over and Over" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 4:14
5. "Love Don't Live Here Anymore" Miles Gregory Nile Rodgers 4:50
6. "Into the Groove" (from the motion picture Desperately Seeking Susan) Madonna, Stephen Bray Madonna and Stephen Bray 4:43
7. "Dress You Up" Andrea LaRusso, Peggy Stanziale Nile Rodgers 4:01
8. "Shoo-Bee-Doo" Madonna Nile Rodgers 5:16
9. "Pretender" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 4:30
10. "Stay" Madonna, Stephen Bray Nile Rodgers 4:07
11. "Like a Virgin" (Extended Dance Remix)++ Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg Nile Rodgers
Remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez		 6:08
12. "Material Girl" (Extended Dance Remix)++ Peter Brown, Robert Rans Nile Rodgers
Remixed by John "Jellybean" Benitez		 6:07

+ Bonus track available on the 1985 re-issue, not available on the U.S. version, not included on the 2001 Remastered version.
++ Bonus track available on the 2001 remastered version.

Certifications, peaks & sales

Country Peak position Certification (if any) Sales/shipments
Australia 7x Platinum[3] 490,000+
Canada Diamond[4] 1,000,000+
Finland Gold[5] 35,000+
France 2 2x Platinum[6] 600,000+
Germany 1 3x Gold[7] 750,000+
Switzerland 3 2x Platinum[8] 100,000+
United Kingdom 1 3x Platinum[9] 900,000+
United States 1 Diamond[10] 10,000,000+

Album credits

Personnel

Production

  • Producers: Madonna, Stephen Bray, Nile Rodgers
  • Engineer: Jason Corsaro
  • Production manager: Budd Tunick
  • Audio Mastering: Bob Ludwig
  • Drum programming: Jimmy Bralower

Design

  • Art Direction: Jeri McManus, Jeffrey Kent Ayer
  • Photography: Steven Meisel
  • Stylist: Maripol
  • Design: Jeffrey Kent Ayer, Jeri McManus

References

  1. ^ Madonna Album Charts and Statistics
  2. ^ Madonna charts and sale figures
  3. ^ ARIA
  4. ^ CRIA
  5. ^ IFPI Finland
  6. ^ Disque En France
  7. ^ IFPI Germany
  8. ^ IFPI Switzerland
  9. ^ BPI
  10. ^ Billboard – Ask Billboard
Preceded by Billboard 200 number-one album
February 9 - March 1 1985 		Succeeded by
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